Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Maryland instead of Michigan, you would:
Health
live 0.8 years longer
In Michigan, the average life expectancy is 76 years (76 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2020. In Maryland, that number is 77 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2020.
Economy
be 22.9% less likely to be unemployed
In Michigan, 4.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Maryland, that number is 3.7% as of 2025.
be 29.1% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Michigan, 12.7% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Maryland, however, that number is 9.0% as of 2023.
make 24.5% more money
Michigan has a GDP per capita of $55,508 as of 2024, while in Maryland, the GDP per capita is $69,127 as of 2024.
Safety
be 33.3% more likely to be a victim of property crime
Michigan has a property crime rate of 1,533 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Maryland, that number is 2,043 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 42.9% more money
The median household income in Michigan is $71,149 as of 2023, while in Maryland, it is $101,652 as of 2023.
pay 82.8% more for a home
The median home value in Michigan is $217,600 as of 2023, compared to $397,700 in Maryland as of 2023.
pay 53.3% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Michigan is $1,084 as of 2023, while in Maryland, it is $1,662 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 29.4% less likely to smoke
In Michigan, 17.0% of adults smoke as of 2022. In Maryland, that number is 12.0% as of 2022.
be 32.9% more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Michigan, 21.9% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In Maryland, that number is 29.1% as of 2023.
be 2.4 times more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Michigan, 3.1% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In Maryland, that number is 7.3% as of 2023.
be 17.2% less likely to be food insecure
In Michigan, 11.6% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In Maryland, that number is 9.6% as of 2021.
commute 7.1 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in Michigan takes 24.4 minutes as of 2023. In Maryland, it takes 31.5 minutes as of 2023.
be 22.4% more likely to be uninsured
In Michigan, 4.9% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In Maryland, that number is 6.0% as of 2023.
live in an area that is 3.6 times more densely populated
Michigan has a population density of 68.5 people per sq km as of 2023. In Maryland, that number is 245.6 people per sq km as of 2023.
Sources: US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), OECD Regional Demography (2020–2023), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2023), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), Feeding America (2021). How we calculate this
